Big game gambrel

ABSTRACT

Two tubular steel frames welded together to make a triangular shaped gambrel. One frame being bent at a 90 degree angle and welded to the second frame which is straight. The welding is completed in a way so that a hole is defined at each end of the lower member. A cable is inserted through the entire length of the bent frame. Two loops are then defined on each of the left and right sides of the frame. Each of the left and right loops are defined by having respective free ends of the cable extend out the lower left and right sides of the upper frame member, then loop around the lower frame member and secured by a cable ferrule to define a slidably attached fixed size loop at the free end that is slidable along the lower frame member. When the upper loop is pulled away from the upper frame member, the length of the cable exposed at the left and right lower portions of the frame is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the respective adjustable size lower loops. As the animals&#39; limbs are placed in each loop of the cable, the weight of the animal itself tightens the top loop, or cable thimble, which in turn tightens the bottom two loops of the cable. This tightening allows the body of the animal to remain in air for cleaning and dressing the animal.

[0001] The invention, entitled “The Big Game Gambrel”, is used as a hunting accessory and looks very similar to an oversized coat hanger enabling you to hoist a big game catch (deer, hog, etc.) from two of it's limbs. “The Big Game Gambrel”, made of a durable steel frame and cable, tightens around the legs of any large animal making it quick and easy to hoist aloft. The invention was created by Donald L. Douglas, a citizen of the United States, residing at 30 Silver Maple Trail, Petal, Miss. 39465.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] Not Applicable

STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0004] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is in relation to gambrels and other hanging devices constructed for hanging, dressing, and supporting large and small game, however this present invention is more modem, advanced, and different from all previous devices filed with the U.S. Patent Office.

[0006] Many gambrels and alterations of the like have been patented through the years. The device is used widespread by hunters to hang wild game, skin, and dress the animal which is necessary to remove all internals of the animal before using the meat for food. Although numerous adaptations of gambrels have been invented over time, they all incur differences from the “Big Game Gambrel”.

[0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 1,311,779, entitled Adjustable Hanger, invented by Irvin F. Shank, a device for hanging hogs for dressing is provided. This invention consisted of two extensible bars each with a concaved end piece, one bar including serrations on its edge side with the other bar having straps fastened at their opposite edges which helped guide the two bars in their sliding movement¹. A rope is then used with loops at its ends which pass through the holes cut in the concaved ends of the bars and to which a ring is fastened, and afforded means whereby the hanger may be suspended. The loops are caught over the legs of the hog. After the two bars have been adjusted to the proper size of the hog to be raised and suspended by the device the loops will draw the legs of the hog against the concaved ends and securely hold the same².

[0008] This invention differs from the present invention in that the “Big Game Gambrel” is not constructed with rope, nor uses two adjustable base bars. The “Big Game Gambrel” is one triangular shaped steel frame consisting of one steel cable that is looped at its three ends of by an adjustable faral and is suspended by the top loop in the air. This present invention can not only be used for the dressing of hogs, but can also withstand the weight for dressing big game such as deer or elk, or can be used for the suspension of such small game as rabbit and squirrel.

[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,313, titled Game Hanger³, by inventor Wayne A. Miller, a collapsable frame is shown for supporting a slaughtered animal high in the air. The supportable frame is used so that the carcass is suspended high enough from the ground so that dogs and other animals can not reach it, the frame being of generally inverted U-shaped configuration when assembled and comprising interfitting metal conduits so to support a top conduit cross piece from which blocks and tackle support a hanger having a hook at each opposite end for putting through the legs of the animal carcass, the entire frame being supported erect above the ground by a nylon rope tied to a stake⁴.

[0010] This patented invention differs from the present invention in that it is particularly adaptable for use in wilderness where there are no trees available from which a slaughtered animal can be supported. The present invention is suspended by a tree by it's top cable loop. This patented invention consists of a collapsible portable frame for the hanger. Also, a nylon rope is secured to stake that is driven into the ground. The present invention is one complete piece, resembling a coat hanger, there is no collapsible frame to hang from nor nylon rope provided to drive into the ground for support.

[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,942, titled Gambrel, invented by Jess J. Lyon, a game holding gambrel is formed from a pair of plastic tubes attachable together by the use of a threaded coupling⁵. Loops are provided at opposed ends of the assembled tubes with these loops being designed to receive the feet of the animal to be butchered. A plastic chain extends upwardly from the ends of the tube assembly and is attachable to a tree limb, or the like, so that the animal can be held in a suspended position. The gambrel may be disassembled into a compact package for storage and transportation⁶.

[0012] The present invention differs dramatically from Lyon's invention purely by construction. The present invention is one steel frame, with no use of plastics or pvc piping. The present invention cannot be compacted nor stored. It is simply a one piece invention made of a steel frame and cable. The present invention is one of improvement from prior patented gambrels with new advantages. It can be constructed at low cost, labor, and susceptible to low prices of sale once reaching public market.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,188,130′ to Pietrowicz is similar for its disclosure of a small game hanging device having a tubular body member through which a single piece of a thong member is looped. Movement of thong or strand into tubular body is prevented by a knot tied into loop adjacent to the outside of body. The size of the upper looped thong to hang the Peitrowicz device to a limb of a tree is varied by a sliding washer upperwardly and downwardly. Likewise, the lower, second and third looped thongs are varied in size by use of respective washers. However, none of the prior art developed shows such, and the Peitrowicz small game hanging device teaches away from the “Big Game Gambrel”, owing to its use of washers to vary the size of its lowermost loops.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This invention is used in the sport of big game hunting. The triangle-shaped invention shall be suspended in the air by the cable thimble, or top loop, of the 90 degree portion of the triangle around a tree or nail or structure enabling the Big Game Gambrel to hang above ground. Any type of big game (deer, hog, elk, etc.) can be suspended in air by placing two of the animals limbs through each of the two bottom loops of the triangle. As the animals' limbs are placed in each loop of the cable, the weight of the animal itself tightens the top loop, or cable thimble, which in turn tightens the bottom two loops of the cable. This tightening permits the body of the animal to remain stationary above air, resulting in easy access to clean the animal. This invention has been proven and tested to support big game animals up to 800 lbs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0015]FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the Big Game Gambrel shown assembled. Referring to the drawing FIG. 1 in detail, the letter A represents a 60″{fraction (3/16)}″ cable that secures the animal into the device. When the device is hoisted upward, this cable, along with the weight of the animal, secures the animal. The letter referenced as B, represents a {fraction (3/16)}″ cable thimble which forms a loop for an attachment to allow the device to be hoisted upward. This thimble is secured by a {fraction (3/16)}″ cable faral represented as C in FIG. 1. The cable faral binds the cable together, securing the cable connection. C also assists in forming the loop, helping support the connection of the cable, which has been tested to support animals up to 800 lbs. A ⅜″ inline opening, referenced as letter D is created inside the 30½″ EMT pipe, represented as E, to create a straight line passage for the cable to pass through. The 30½″ EMT pipe provides an upper frame that houses the cable passage and a bottom frame that supports the apparatus. The upper and bottom frames of the EMT pipe are welded together attaching the upper and bottom frame as evidenced by letter F.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Two EMT steel pipes and a steel cable are the two main ingredients in the construction of this invention. The “Big Game Gambrel” sketched and found hereto as Exhibit “A”, looks very similar to an oversized, steel-framed coat hanger. A 30 inch long, ½ inch size hollow EMT steel pipe is shaped with a pipe bender until it is formed into a pipe with a 90 degree outside radius. A straight 22 inch long, ½ inch size EMT steel pipe is then placed and welded connecting with the two ends of the 90 degree pipe, leaving the hollow ends unimpeded. Together the two steel pipes are connected giving this invention the form of a coat hanger. The measurement from the apex of the 90 degree pipe down to the 22 inch straight steel pipe should equal 8 inches.

[0017] Following the construction of the two EMT steel pipes into one “main frame”, the next procedure is to drill two ⅜ inch holes, 12½ inches apart, on the shoulder portion of the 90 degree pipe, making sure not to drill completely through the steel pipe. This allows you to run one 60 inch long, {fraction (3/16)} inch wide steel cable through each ⅜ hole until the steel cable comes through the two hollow ends of what was the 90 degree pipe. To do this, take the 60 inch long, {fraction (3/16)} inch wide cable holding both ends in each hand. Then, proceed to probe the two ends of the cable through the hollow interior of the 90 degree portion of the main frame until both ends of the cable are pushed through.

[0018] To complete “The Big Game Gambrel”, the two free cable ends are to be looped around the 22 inch straight bottom pipe and fastened with a {fraction (3/16)} cable faral. The cable faral allows each of the two loops to freely slide on the 22 inch bottom pipe and also allows each loop to expand and contract. The portion of the cable that can be observed on the 90 degree apex of the frame is to be wrapped by a {fraction (3/16)} cable faral, making a third loop. This loop, or cable thimble, can expand and contract as the other two, however this loop is used to hang the invention above the ground. 

1. I claim: The “Big Game Gambrel” includes a tubular upper frame bent at a 90 degree angle that is welded to a tubular straight lower frame member. The welding is done in a manner so that a hole is defined at each end of the lower member (i.e. at the left and right side thereof). In that manner, a single cable can be inserted through substantially the entire length of the upper bent frame member. The cable includes a fixed size upper loop that is fixed by use of a faral or ferrule. Two lower fixed size loops are likewise defined in the cable, one loop being defined on each of the left and right sides of the frames. Each of the left and right loops is defined by having respective free ends of the cable extend out the lower frame member and be secured by a cable ferrule to define a slidably attached fixed size loop at the free end that is slidable along the lower frame member. In that manner, when the upper loop is pulled away from the upper frame member, the length of cable exposed at the left and right lower portions of the frame is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the respective adjustable size lower loops. In use, when the leg of an animal has been inserted into a respective lower loop, and then hung, the weight of the animal assists in reducing the size of the loop thanks to the relative movement between the frame members and the cable given the location of the holes near the top of your upper frame (i.e., near the center line of the bent arc defining the 90 degree angle). The cable slides readily out of the top of the frame, in use, so as to slide into the frame at the bottom, in use, thereby reducing the size of the adjustable size lower loops and securely holding the legs of the carcass. Therefore, after a diligent patentability search, no one single patent reference discloses the inventive “Big Game Gambrel”. 